Sunday morning

Beautiful day. Blue sky sunny. Breezy. 60s.

I took both guys for a walk this morning, just to see how it would go. Training collars on both. Extenda-leads for both. Mickey didn't want to go at first--he may have thought we were on our way to the 1) vet or 2) kennel. But once he realized he was going for A! WALK!, he became pretty excited.

I managed. The training collars cut down a lot on the Ben Hur chariot race aspects of the exercise. The guys spend most of the time sniffing and engaging in competitive peeing anyway, so the pace wasn't exactly fast.

Shopping was done. New trashcan for kitchen. Trashbags and birdseed. Also some unanticipated flower and shrub purchases. Not sure I'll get them in the ground today, but I'll keep them watered and they should keep until next week.

I also bought an early birthday present for myself. Tickets to the first Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert at Ravinia, with Joshua Bell as featured soloist. It isn't until July, so it will be something nice to look forward to.

UPDATE: Flowers and shrubs are planted. Flat of begonias in the planter in the front yard. One rhododendron in the back yard and two smaller ones in the front. I will need to get another one for the backyard--the one I thought made it through the winter apparently didn't. I think I put it in the ground too late. I bought it before Mom got sick, and it spent the summer on the deck before I had the time to plant it. I did water it, but I think it took a beating from the direct sun. So, of the two rhos I planted last fall, both hit the buglight.

I was *very* happy to see that the Japanese maple, which I bought at the same time as the rhos and which took a beating on the deck as well, seems to have made it through the winter. The tips of a couple of the branches are dead, but buds are sprouting from every branch. I hope it takes because it's a lovely variety.

Dinner came from packages--cheese and artichoke-stuffed pasta (little baskets. I don't recall the name) with marinara, salad, and a really good Kendall Jackson cabernet. I do like to cook, but Sundays are just more relaxing when I stick to grilled/broiled meats or pasta. Minimum of pots. Half-hour, and everything's done.

Sunday morning

Beautiful day. Blue sky sunny. Breezy. 60s.

I took both guys for a walk this morning, just to see how it would go. Training collars on both. Extenda-leads for both. Mickey didn't want to go at first--he may have thought we were on our way to the 1) vet or 2) kennel. But once he realized he was going for A! WALK!, he became pretty excited.

I managed. The training collars cut down a lot on the Ben Hur chariot race aspects of the exercise. The guys spend most of the time sniffing and engaging in competitive peeing anyway, so the pace wasn't exactly fast.

Shopping was done. New trashcan for kitchen. Trashbags and birdseed. Also some unanticipated flower and shrub purchases. Not sure I'll get them in the ground today, but I'll keep them watered and they should keep until next week.

I also bought an early birthday present for myself. Tickets to the first Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert at Ravinia, with Joshua Bell as featured soloist. It isn't until July, so it will be something nice to look forward to.

UPDATE: Flowers and shrubs are planted. Flat of begonias in the planter in the front yard. One rhododendron in the back yard and two smaller ones in the front. I will need to get another one for the backyard--the one I thought made it through the winter apparently didn't. I think I put it in the ground too late. I bought it before Mom got sick, and it spent the summer on the deck before I had the time to plant it. I did water it, but I think it took a beating from the direct sun. So, of the two rhos I planted last fall, both hit the buglight.

I was *very* happy to see that the Japanese maple, which I bought at the same time as the rhos and which took a beating on the deck as well, seems to have made it through the winter. The tips of a couple of the branches are dead, but buds are sprouting from every branch. I hope it takes because it's a lovely variety.

Dinner came from packages--cheese and artichoke-stuffed pasta (little baskets. I don't recall the name) with marinara, salad, and a really good Kendall Jackson cabernet. I do like to cook, but Sundays are just more relaxing when I stick to grilled/broiled meats or pasta. Minimum of pots. Half-hour, and everything's done.